Engine Bay Cleaning
#2
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Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
Aerosol engine degreaser and a pressure washer should do it.
#3
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
For starters, take it to the local pocket-full-of-quarters car wash and leave the biggest mess there.
But let the engine cool for some time first. If you shoot cold water at hot spark plugs, they shatter.
Castrol Super Clean works great. Purple power is the same thing. Cheapest at WalMart.
Wear rubber gloves. The stuff is caustic. It will eat the finger prints off of your hands.
But let the engine cool for some time first. If you shoot cold water at hot spark plugs, they shatter.
Castrol Super Clean works great. Purple power is the same thing. Cheapest at WalMart.
Wear rubber gloves. The stuff is caustic. It will eat the finger prints off of your hands.
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
That looks like undercoating (like a Rust Jones type product) with dirt on top, more than just pure dirt.
Is there an area that you have tried to clean yet?
WD40 makes a good cleaner. I've used it on a rag to clean up some caked on old grease and wax. It was fairly mild to the paint. There do seem to be varying degrees of clear coat over the color coat in the engine compartments of our cars. Some look as shiny as the outside, others (like mine) have a more matte finish (meaning less clear). As a result, some areas come up with a very modest amount of Bright Red on the rags I used.
Is there an area that you have tried to clean yet?
WD40 makes a good cleaner. I've used it on a rag to clean up some caked on old grease and wax. It was fairly mild to the paint. There do seem to be varying degrees of clear coat over the color coat in the engine compartments of our cars. Some look as shiny as the outside, others (like mine) have a more matte finish (meaning less clear). As a result, some areas come up with a very modest amount of Bright Red on the rags I used.
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:42 Auburn
Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
For starters, take it to the local pocket-full-of-quarters car wash and leave the biggest mess there.
But let the engine cool for some time first. If you shoot cold water at hot spark plugs, they shatter.
Castrol Super Clean works great. Purple power is the same thing. Cheapest at WalMart.
Wear rubber gloves. The stuff is caustic. It will eat the finger prints off of your hands.
But let the engine cool for some time first. If you shoot cold water at hot spark plugs, they shatter.
Castrol Super Clean works great. Purple power is the same thing. Cheapest at WalMart.
Wear rubber gloves. The stuff is caustic. It will eat the finger prints off of your hands.
I use the ZEP Purple Industrial cleaner and that stuff will burn the crap out of your hands but man does it eat through caked grease and dirt!
The following 2 users liked this post by vinny R:
NoEmissions84TA (06-06-2021), T.L. (06-05-2021)
#6
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 355
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 10 Bolt Posi
Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
You going to run the risk of oxidizing the paint, and even more so any bare aluminum (water pump, heads, intake manifold, carb etc will turn chaulky white) if you use degreaser by itself as its very caustic. A Decon shampoo like OG Decon, or mix some APC with a good quality shampoo is next best. Use an IK foam sprayer dwell for 5 min and use a boards head brush to agitate. 40deg nozzel on the pressure washer to rinse. Plastics and rubber I use Megs #40 or Griots.
#7
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Car: '87 FIREGOOSE!!!!
Re: Engine Bay Cleaning
I know on some of the detail forums there are popular choices in Meguiars Hyper Dressing, 303, Carpro Pearl, etc. After a good cleaning spray on and come back and wipe off as desired. Then upkeep to avoid having to give a deep cleaning again. I kinda like that, spray and walk away. I'm lazy, lol.
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